Best Open Source Software

Open Source Software

The number of open source applications and tools that are available on today’s popular operating systems is simply mind-blowing. They come in all forms. Small scripts and console tools that can be easily integrated into large projects, feature-rich applications that offer everything a complete solution, well designed tools, games that encourage real participation, and eye catching candy.

Open source software holds many compelling advantages over proprietary software. Open source improves the quality of the code, keeps costs down, encourages innovation and collaboration, combined with superior security, freedom, flexibility, interoperability, business agility, and much more.

Open source’s popularity continues to bloom. There is a staggering volume of proven open source software available to download. This compilation selects the best-of-breed ranging from software coded by individual programmers, small teams of enthusiasts, extending to large multinational corporations. We mostly recommend cross-platform software, but, where appropriate, make some exceptions.

This is a living document. And it is not an exhaustive selection. There have been many difficult choices. The article has been divided into 7 pages.

You are welcome to recommend additions to this article (there is a form to complete on the final page) providing they meet the following requirements:

Released under an open source license;

Available for at least one of the following operating systems: Linux, Microsoft Windows or Apple OS X.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is the most popular open source office suite. It comprises programs to do word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, drawing, math, and database management. For business users, it offers good compatibility with Microsoft file formats. It is fast, powerful, and the leading free desktop-style alternative to Microsoft Office.

In the last few years, the suite has become increasingly polished. We particularly like the user-friendly interface with no annoying ribbons.

The Document Foundation provides packages for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux, OS X (10.8 or newer) and Windows (Vista or newer). For Linux, it can also be downloaded as Flatpak and Snap images. LibreOffice Portable is a full-featured portable version of LibreOffice – packaged as a portable app. The Document Foundation provides a LibreOffice Viewer for Android.

Scribus

If you need to layout, typeset and prepare files for professional quality image setting equipment, Scribus is just the ticket. Scribus can also create animated and interactive PDF presentations and forms. Use Scribus to produce books, small newspapers, brochures, posters, and newsletters.

Scribus supports professional DTP features, such as CMYK color and a color management system to soft proof images for high quality color printing, flexible PDF creation options, Encapsulated PostScript import/export and creation of 4 color separations, import of EPS/PS and SVG as native vector graphics, Unicode text including right to left scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew via freetype. Graphic formats which can be placed in Scribus as images include PDF, Encapsulated Post Script (eps), TIFF, JPEG, PNG and XPixMap(xpm), and any bitmap type supported by QT4.

OS

Supported

Notes

Scribus runs on Linux and other flavors of Unix and Unix-like systems, including Mac OS X, as well as OS/2 and eComStation, and Windows 2000 or later.

Installation packages for Windows, Mac OS X, a Linux AppImage and the source code are available.

Homepage: www.scribus.net
Developer: The Scribus Team
License: GNU GPL v2 or later
Written in: C++

ProjectLibre

The open source replacement for Microsoft Project. Users will appreciate the familiar interface, compatibility with Project 2010, and its powerful charting capabilities. Deliver winning projects with ProjectLibre.

It is capable of sharing files with Microsoft Project and has very similar functionality (Gantt, PERT diagram, histogram, charts, reports, detailed usage), as well as tree views.

OS

Supported

Notes

ProjectLibre is a Java application, and so it runs on any operating system that has a recent Java Runtime Environment.

MariaDB

A drop-in replacement for the MySQL relational database with lots of cutting edge features. Shed loads of huge corporations have migrated to MariaDB. With good reason, MariaDB is another massive open source success. It is arguably the most feature-laden and stable SQL server available.

The development is led by the original core developers of MySQL; they created MariaDB as a response to Oracle’s acquisition of Sun Microsystems.

OS

Supported

Notes

MariaDB Server is available in the standard repositories of all major Linux distributions including CentOS, Fedora, Red Hat, Debian, Ubuntu, openSUSE, or Mageia. There are also packages for Solaris. The developers provide binary packages for Debian and Red Hat based distros. There are binary packages for Solaris. Windows has MSI packages.

Calibre

There’s nothing to beat this complete e-library solution. With a lavish selection of features, it offers library management, format conversion supporting all the major e-book formats, news feeds to e-book conversion as well as e-book reader sync features.

Calibre has a built-in e-book viewer that can display all the major e-book formats. It also has a built-in web server that allows users to remotely access their ebook collection using a simple browser.

The software is mature; it has been in development for a decade.

OS

Supported

Notes

Calibre works on Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. It also works on OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) and higher. It has a binary install for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux distributions.

The Calibre portable build can be run on any Windows computer running at least Windows Vista.

FocusWriter

A simple, distraction-free word processor. It uses a hide-away interface that you access by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen, allowing the program to have a familiar look and feel to it while still getting out of the way so that you can immerse yourself in your work. Improve your writing productivity.

Features include support for ODT files, timers and alarms, daily goals, customizable themes, auto-save, live statistics, spell-checking. It has been translated into over 20 languages.

OS

Supported

Notes

FocusWriter is actively maintained for Linux, Windows and OS X.

The developer provides binary packages for Windows and OS X. Most popular Linux distributions include packages.

LyX Document Processor

LyX is an advanced open source document processor. It is called a “document processor”, because unlike standard word processors, LyX encourages an approach to writing based on the structure of documents, not their appearance.

Think of LyX as the first WYSIWYM word processor: What You See Is What You Mean.

It has strong features for the mathematics and scientific fields, good support for graphics and tables, and enables users to create structured documents. You can import and export to many formats (LaTeX, PDF, Postscript, DVI, ASCII, HTML, OpenDocument, RTF, MS Word, and others).

OS

Supported

Notes

There are binary versions for Windows, OS X, Linux, OS/2 and Haiku.

The software depends on LaTeX, a large macro package that loads on top of TeX, a typesetting system. The developers provide bundles designed for new users.

Homepage: www.lyx.org
Developer: The LyX Team
License: GNU GPL v2 or later
Written in: C++

Okular

Supporting a whole raft of different formats including PDF, PostScript, DjVU, images, Open Document, this app is a noteworthy universal document viewer.

Okular allows you to review and annotate your documents. Annotations created in Okular are automatically saved in the internal local data folder for each user.

OS

Supported

Notes

Okular works on multiple platforms, including but not limited to Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, *BSD, etc.

The last stable release is Okular 1.0, shipped as part of the KDE Applications 16.12 release.

KMyMoney

A great tool to keep track of your financial position, KMyMoney offers a good set of financial features and tools. It is simple to use, and supports different account types, categorization of expenses and incomes, reconciliation of bank accounts and import/export to the “QIF” file format.

KMyMoney seeks to provide the main features found in proprietary personal finance managers. It aims to offer an individual and unique view of your finances.

OS

Supported

Notes

As a result of the development towards KDE Frameworks 5 (KF5), KMyMoney has been successfully built by the developers from a common source base for Linux, OS X and Windows.

GnuCash

Run a small business? Look no further than GnuCash – it is based on professional accounting principles to generate balanced books and accurate reports. But you can use it to handle your bank accounts, investment portfolio, income and expenses too.

A real gem of an open source program, GnuCash gives commercial rivals a run for their money.

OS

Supported

Notes

GnuCash is part of the GNU Project and runs on Linux, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, Solaris, macOS, and other Unix-like platforms.

CherryTree

Need to capture thoughts with a useful application? CherryTree is a hierarchical note taking application. CherryTree features rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

The software has excellent search functions that make finding information painless. Cherrytree has many user configurable options to alter its look and behavior.

OS

Supported

Notes

The developer provides packages for Debian/Ubuntu and Red Hat. There is a windows installer and a portable archive.

There is no official support for OS X but some people have the software runnning with MacPorts and XQuartz.

FreeMind

Mindmapping software written in Java that makes for a high productivity tool. FreeMind allows the user to edit a hierarchical set of ideas around a central concept. FreeMind is great for knowledge and content management.

OS

Supported

Notes

FreeMind is written in Java, so it runs on almost any system with a Java runtime environment. Java Runtime Environment 1.6 or later is required.